As a novel common standard that enables seamless compatibility and secure connectivity between IoT devices within a smart home, the Matter standard provides the foundation for a smart home ecosystem where IoT devices from different manufacturers can easily work together to provide residents with a convenient new smart home experience. To establish secure connections in Matter, device certificates based on the security policy defined by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) are utilised, and each Matter-enabled product possesses a unique digital certificate to communicate only with secure parties. Each Matter-enabled product holds a unique digital certificate and communicates only with secure parties. As such, Matter requires the use of digital certificates for each IoT device to realise a secure smart home.

Selected by CSA as the world's first Matter Root CA, Digicert supports the project with high security and support capabilities backed by professional experience and knowledge based on the company’s certificate business experience and wide adoption worldwide. Macnica, with its expertise in the IoT and IT domains, played an important role in the implementation of the Matter-compliant digital certificates at Panasonic Group’s production plant--from deal discovery and management through implementation and post-deployment technical support.

The certificates allow Panasonic room air conditioners to be seamlessly integrated into the Matter ecosystem, enabling users to control and monitor their room air conditioners from Matter-enabled devices such as smart speakers, smartphones, and tablets.

“The security of Panasonic room air conditioners has been greatly enhanced by adopting the latest solutions from Digicert, a leading provider of digital certificates, in addition to the security-oriented Matter standard. This allows consumers to feel more secure in the convenient and integrated living experience provided by Panasonic's smart home platform,” said Manish Misra, Chief Innovation Officer, Panasonic Life Solutions India. “We chose Digicert's solution because of its high security and scalability for Panasonic, which manufactures not only room air conditioners, but also refrigerators, washing machines, and a variety of other equipment at its factories around the world. The highly reliable DigiCert solution has enabled us to start up production smoothly and trouble-free. The new room air conditioners have been well received by the market and production is steadily increasing."

“We are pleased to partner with Macnica and Panasonic Life Solutions India in revolutionising the smart home landscape in India,” said Mike Nelson, Vice President of Digital Trust at Digicert. “By providing Digicert’s industry-leading PKI solutions, we are delivering robust security and seamless connectivity for Matter-enabled devices, empowering consumers to experience the utmost convenience and reliability in their smart home ecosystem.”

According to the company, Panasonic will continue to leverage the high security and scalability of Matter-compliant Digicert PKI and plans to gradually expand its Matter-enabled product models.  Equally, Digicert also aims to continue to develop solutions for various standards bodies, including Matter, and provides services that flexibly respond to the diverse security requirements of each country, region, and industry.